UDP leader warns against ‘deification’ of leaders

Ousainou Darboe warned Gambians not to allow the country’s economy to be destroyed by greed. It is not clear what precipitated his comment but the UDP leader has recently been fired from his vice presidency job following ensuing problems with President Adama Barrow.

The leader of the United Democratic Party, Ousainou Darboe, has warned Gambians against deification of political leaders, a behavior that he said strengthened the dictatorship of the former president Yahya Jammeh.

“Religious leaders extolled him (Yahya Jammeh). They call some of us opposing him as bad citizens, including journalists,” he said.

Darboe has been the leader of the UDP, the main political challenger of the Jammeh regime since 1996. His party was formed in August 1996 and Darboe became the main contender for country’s top job with Jammeh’s Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction party.

The UDP leader, the 58 witness before the Truth Commission investigating the human rights violations of Jammeh, said his party is in full support of the ideals behind ‘never again’ campaign.

“Never again, I used it in different context. We should not allow the economy of this country to be destroyed by greed. It is in the interest of this country to ensure that,” said Darboe.

“It is in the interest of this country to ensure that we do not deify any person because deification of individuals has led to what obtained in the past 22 years. So never again. We are in it so that we do not have a TRRC again.”

It is not clear what precipitated his comment but the UDP leader has recently been fired from his vice presidency job following ensuing problems with President Adama Barrow.

Darboe is one of many political leaders who have testified before the Commission. His party is believed to have suffered more human rights violations than any other political party.

The UDP leader broke into tears while explaining the death of his party’s loyal supporters such as Kanyiba Kanyi.

“Kanyiba Kanyi has died living behind a pregnant wife. He has a son who has never felt the touch of a father,” said Darboe, with spatters on tears in his eyes.

Darboe described Jammeh’s Government as the worst Government in the world.